AFA's Burtschi has French offer

Air Force Academy graduate Jacob Burtschi received a contract offer from a basketball team in France’s top professional league.

Whether he’ll be able to accept it is another matter.

Cholet Basket, which plays in the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB), wants Burtschi, a two-time All-Mountain West Conference second-team selection, for the upcoming season. But an Air Force policy released earlier this year states an airman who wants to pursue a professional sports career “must have served on active duty for at least 24 months.”

Before it was in place, 2006 academy graduate Antoine Hood was able to play for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League last season by applying for “excess leave.”

Burtschi, who has been assigned to coach basketball at the academy’s prep school, hopes he can be an exception to the new rule. He plans to speak with Air Force Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. John F. Regni and prep school commander Col. Larry D. Jones about his options. Cholet Basket’s offer gives him a bargaining chip.

“From the start, General Regni said if I get a contract, he’d push (the decision) up to the right people,” Burtschi said.

Burtschi said his agent, Bill Kent, of Sports Management Worldwide, and Kent’s colleague, KC Callero, who specializes in international basketball, have received calls from more than 10 European teams. But most have been wary of Burtschi’s military commitment.

The contract offered by Cholet Basketball would run from Aug. 6 through June 31. The contract would be worth $60,000, Burtschi said, and the team would cover his living expenses.

Burtschi, who took four semesters of French at the academy, said one option he might suggest is working at an air station in France on off days and in the offseason.

If he does not find a loophole, Burtschi said he would stay in shape and continue his career after two years of active duty.

“I want to play a couple more years, at least until my body quits, because I’ve been playing since I could walk,” he said. “If it doesn’t happen this year, it will happen in two years.”